Balloonist with Rockford ties missing over Adriatic Sea

ROCKFORD — Italian coast guards are searching for a pair of American balloonists, one with local ties, who went missing over the Adriatic Sea during rough weather.

Kevin Haas

ROCKFORD — Italian coast guards are searching for a pair of American balloonists, one with local ties, who went missing over the Adriatic Sea during rough weather.

Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer Davis were part of the 54th Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race, the world’s oldest balloon race that pits teams against one another to see who can fly the farthest from a set point on a maximum 35,300 cubic feet of gas.

Abruzzo is the son of Rockford native and famed balloonist Ben Abruzzo.

The younger Abruzzo’s balloon is one of 20 that set off from the English coastal city of Bristol.

The last signal was received from the balloon’s GPS early Wednesday. The signal showed the craft was 13 miles off the Gargano coast in the Adriatic Sea, where thunderstorms were reported.

Richard Abruzzo’s aunt, Theresa Mathiesen of Rockford, is keeping in touch with her nephew’s family.

“We’re ... hoping for the best,” said Mathiesen, a retired Loves Park Elementary School principal. She said she has spoken with Richard’s two brothers and they, like her, are just waiting for news.

“From what we understand (a search party is) just waiting for the light to come in and they’ll start looking again.”

Also on Wednesday night, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson requested assistance from the U.S. State Department in securing military assets in Italy and Albania to aid in the search of missing balloonists.

The Associated Press reported that two people close to Abruzzo in New Mexico said there had been issues with the balloonist’s radio equipment.

Ben Abruzzo was captain of the first successful balloon journeys across the Atlantic Ocean in 1978 and the Pacific Ocean in 1981. He is the only Rockford native to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Ben Abruzzo died in 1985.

Richard Abruzzo, who lives in Albuquerque, N.M., followed his father’s passion for ballooning. He’s an experienced balloonist, having won numerous gas-powered balloon races, including the Gordon Bennett race.

Richard Abruzzo is married and the father of two children. He has previously crossed the Atlantic in a balloon, Mathiesen said.

“He’s a survivor. A couple years ago he had a ballooning accident where he fell 50 feet and survived it. He doesn’t give up,” she said. “He’s a remarkable young man.”

The Associated Press and staff writer Mike Wiser contributed to this report.

Staff writer Kevin Haas can be reached at 815-987-1354 or khaas@rrstar.com.